Ray Smith (Australian footballer)
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| Ray Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Raymond Kehm Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 23 September 1948 | ||
| Original team(s) | Western Districts | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 81 kg (179 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1971–1975 | Essendon | 77 (1) | |
| 1975–1976 | Melbourne | 27 (1) | |
| Total | 104 (2) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1976. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Raymond Kehm "Ray" Smith (born 23 September 1948) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1970s. He also played professional rugby league for Fortitude Valley in 1970 and was a part of their premiership-winning team.
Smith began playing junior Australian rules football for Sherwood until the age of 14. He then commenced playing senior football for the Western Districts in the QANFL as a 15-year-old while also playing schoolboys rugby union for Brisbane Grammar School in the position of centre. He continued to play both sports throughout his schooling and earned representative honours for the under-19 Queensland rugby union team as well as the Queensland Australian rules football state team.
Australian National Football Council rules at the time stated that New South Wales and Queensland were considered developmental states and would not allow players to switch into the VFL in fear of diminishing the local talent pool. Smith instead decided to sign for the Fortitude Valley Diehards professional rugby league team in the Brisbane Rugby League after impressing in a touch football game.[1]